British nationals in Hong Kong and to people in Britain the acceptanc of a residual moral responsibility for people in Hong Kong. Although it would not restore the citizenship rights removed from Hong Kong people, it would be the first occasion since 1962 when Britain's nationality or immigration law had relaxed and not tightened for non-white British nationals.
The discouraging of Hong Kong students, and the difficulties experienced by people who want to set up businesses or rejoin their relatives in Britain have all caused great ill-feeling in Hong Kong. British nationality law is seen as part of this racially discriminatory, chauvinist package: Professor Daffydd Evans of Hong Kong Universi- ty commented that The Empire has gone and Britain has retreated behind its own shoreline. It is now treating the last vestiges of the Empire as inconvenient appendages that can be dealt with in this way
Little England has shrunk again'24.
British nationality law has not only added to the insecurity of some British nationals in Hong Kong: it has also left a legacy of bitterness and deep suspicion which could well harm Britain's own longterm diplomatic and trading interests in the Far East.
We therefore recommend that, in consultation with people in Hong Kong, the provision for government servants to register as British citizens in "special circumstances" on a case by case basis should be extended to other British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong. There should be clearly specified criteria and a right of appeal against refusal.
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